Trustees unanimously approve pay-plan moves, hiring and policy items; place performance evaluation on next agenda

At its Tuesday, Dec. 31 meeting the Public Defender Board of Trustees approved several personnel and policy items by unanimous voice vote and directed staff to bring one outstanding personnel evaluation back on to the agenda for formal action.

Minutes: The board approved the minutes of the previous meeting. The board recorded that the motion to approve the minutes was made by Board member Donna R. Muniakonathan and seconded by Board member Christiana S. Whitman; there were no objections.

Executive director compensation: Trustees voted unanimously to adjust the executive director’s salary-calculation basis to an attorney pay plan placement (Attorney 5, Step 10) effective Jan. 1, 2025, with the position remaining unclassified and with no retroactive pay. Language in the motion specified the shift in pay-plan calculation and that the executive director would retain unclassified status; board members said the change preserves easier placement if the director later returns to a full-time attorney role.

Civil Law Center resolution (needs assessment): The board considered a final civil-moratorium resolution that had been prepared earlier. Trustees noted the resolution had been approved in a prior meeting and performed a final review of the wording. The board adopted an amendment to the resolution’s final “resolved” clause so that the Civil Law Center (CLC) “shall submit its needs assessment on priority legal services for determination by the Board of Trustees.” With that amendment the board voted to approve the resolution for signature.

Donated-leave bank policy: Trustees voted unanimously to adopt the donated leave bank policy as amended at the meeting. Board members agreed that a single approving official should be designated; the policy language was clarified to place approval authority with the executive director (or the managing attorney/APD in his absence) to avoid dual-signoff confusion.

Administrative director recruitment and compensation: The board approved hiring a recommended candidate for the administrative-director position at an S-10 pay step with an annual salary of $119,633. Trustees also amended the resolution to authorize the Public Defender Service Corporation to use any lapse funds available in its budget to cover the difference between the budgeted amount (previously approved at $112,388) and the proposed S-10 salary. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

Above-step recruitment/step improvement for returning staff: The board approved an above-step placement for a returning employee (discussion identified the hire as a lateral placement from the Attorney General’s Office who had been on LTA/grant-funded status). Trustees said the appointment will align the employee’s pay with prior step entitlements; the motion passed unanimously.

Performance-evaluation resolution for the managing attorney: Trustees acknowledged a resolution concerning the managing attorney’s completed performance evaluation that was not included on the published agenda and therefore could not be acted on at the meeting. The board voted to place that resolution on the agenda within the next four weeks for formal consideration and signature.

All of the foregoing personnel and policy votes were recorded as unanimous in the meeting transcript when members responded “aye.”